Hair curlers



July 16, i963 N. L. SOLOMON HAIR CURLERS Filed Aug. 25, 1959 United States Patent C) 3,097,657 HAIR CURLERS Nathan L. Solomon, 343 Highview Road, Englewood, NJ. Fiied Aug. 25, 1959, Ser. No. 835,999 3 Claims. (Cl. 132-39) This invention relates to devices used for forming curls in the hair, `and particularly to hair curlers that make soft smooth curls and more particularly to provide a hair curling device that positively holds in place the ends of the strands of a swatch of hair to be rolled as the ends of the strands initially contact the rolling surface of the `curler without requiring any further act of the user.

With curlers of this general type there has always been a problem of initially holding in place on the curling surface the ends of a swatch of hair to be curled prepara-- tory to rolling the swatch of hair onto the curler body. Due to the small frictional force existing between materials conventionally used in curlers and hair, various attempts have been made to retard, hold or otherwise maintain the ends of the strands of hair on the curler body preparatory to rolling the curl. Heretofore, curlers have had outwardly extending projections from the surface of the curler, roughened portions on the outer surface, separate clamping arms, etc. These efforts helped, but did not solve, the problem, and oftentimes the user, even with these aids, had to hold Ithe ends of the swatch of hair on the curler with one hand and rotate the curler with the other hand in order to roll the swatch of hair onto the curler body. To secure any benet from these aids curlers required a separate clamping section or a separate prepositioning of the curler surface with respect to the ends of the strands of hair which resulted in a delay in rolling each curl and an awkwardness for self users until a skill or knack was acquired from long use. These prior art features for aiding in holding the end-s of the strands of hai-r to be rolled also added to the cost of the curler as well as detnaoted from its general appearance.

Since many curlers of this general type are used simultaneously, it is essential that they be inexpensive and light in weight. Also, due to h-air waving solutions being used with the curlers which often are highly corrosive to metals and certain other materials, the curler should be preferably made of materials that can withstand these solutions as well as allowing Vany moisture in the hair to freely evaporate.

With these requirements in view, it is therefore an object of the present invent-ion to provide a hair curling device that positively holds and maintains the ends of strands of hair initially placed thereon preparatory to rolling these strands into a curl independent of any further acts of the user, thereby allowing quick and easy rolling of swatches of hair for curl formation even by the self user.

It is a further object of 4the present invention to provide a curler that positively lgrasps the ends of the strands of hair to -be wound thereon wherever the ends are placed on the rolling surface of the curler, thus eliminating any initial prepositioning of the curler body with respect to the ends of the strands of hair for attempted securement thereto which Was awkward and disconcerting to the home user.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a hair curling device of relatively simple construction which is adapted to spread the strands of a swatch of hair over the body portion of the curler when they are rolled upon it and supporting and maintaining the strand-s of hair in this spread position all during use so as to produce a smooth, even curl.

Still another object is to provide a hair curling device that has a resilient body section for yielding resiliently 3,097,657 Patented July 16, 1963 ICC inwardly as the hair is rolled thereon for imposing a generally constant tension on the hair to secure a more natural looking curl.

A yet further object is to provide a hair curling device that accomplishes all of the a-bove and yet is simple to use even by the self user, inexpensive to fabricate, lightweight and -allows any moisture in the hair to freely evaporate.

Other subjects and features lof the invention will be apparent when the following description is considered in connection with the annexed drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective front elevational view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a partially broken away front elevational view of the curler shown in FIGURE l assembled;

FIGURE 3 is `a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal perspective view of a further embodiment of the outer support member of the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is ta side view showing the outer support member of FIGURE 5 in its open position to receive the brush member.

Referring no-w to the embodiment of the present invention sho-wn in FIGURES l through 3. A brush or inner body member 11 'has a central support member 13 which supports -a multiplicity of bristles 15 projecting radially from and longitudinally along central support member 13. Preferably bristles 15 are evenly distributed about the outer peripheral surface of central 4support member 13 and are of such a length that their ends define ra substantially cylindrical surface so that the outer peripheral surface of brush 11 is a uniform cylinder. It is desirable that bristles 15 have a high degree of resiliency so that they will retain their shape after use for producing uniform smooth curls. Bristles 15 may be made from any suitable resilient material which is capable of withstanding the ingredients normally used in hair waving lotions. Preferably central support member 13 has ends 16 and 17 free of bristles 15.

Central support member 13 is preferably made of a pair of stili metal wires or rods and twisted to form crimps or ribs, ynot shown, with groups of bristles 15 caught between adjacent ribs or crimps so that the bristles are linedly held in position. Ends 16l and 17 have the individual pieces of wire or rod in abutting relation and of the same length to form a unitary end. Other central support structures may be devised by those skilled in the art.

An outer support member designated generally at 18` in FIGURE l has a pair of annular end members `or discs 2t) and 22. Discs 20 and 22 each have a centrally disposed aperture 24 and 25 respectively therein. Apertures 24 land 425 are of the same relative shape as ends 17 and 16 of support member '13 but are Vslightly larger for receiving ends 17 and 16 therethrough. Spaced about on a lateral face of disc 20 and adjacent .the peripheral edge thereof are a series of ribs or rods 28. While ribs 28 are shown in FIGURE 3 to be circular in crosssection, other shapes may be used. End member or disc 22 has Ia series of transverse apertures 30 therein adjacent its peripheral edge equal in number as ribs 28 for receiving the ends thereof. The outer diameter of the interrupted cylinder formed by ribs 28 is less than the outer diameter of the cylindrical surface defined by the ends of bristles 15 so that upon assembly of brush 11 within outer support member 18, the ends of bristles 15 extend beyond ribs 28 as seen best in FIGURES 2 and 3. End member 20l has a series of apertures 29 therein.

To assemble, the ends of ribs 28 extending from annular end member 20 are disposed substantially concentrically about central support member 13 and are forced through resilient bristles 15 with aperture 24 in end member receiving end 117 of central support member 13. The inner lateral surface of `disc or end 20 is positioned abutting the radial surface of bristles 15 as shown best in FIGURE 2. End member 22 is placed in position with aperture 25 receiving end 16 of central support member 13 and each aperture 30 receiving a respective end of a rib 28. End disc 22 is placed flush against its respective radial surface of bristles 15. End 22 is retained in position in any convenient manner, such as by spreading apart the wires of the ends of central support member 13, or making aperture 25 slightly smaller than the outer diameter of end 16 of central support member 13 or making apertures 30 tightly engaging the ends of ribs 28. As shown in FIGURE 1 the ends of ribs 28 have a protuberance 20 thereon which upon being forced through respective apertures 30 securely retains disc 22 in position. As shown, all of ribs 2S have protuberances on their ends; however, if desired, only selected ribs may have them.

A modified outer support member 31 is shown in FIGS. 4 through 6. At each end of outer support member 31 and substantially coaxial to the longitudinal axis thereof is a substantially toroidal center portion 33 and 35 defining apertures 36 and 37 respectively therein. Radially extending from toroidal end portion 33 are a series of arms 42 and radially extending from toroidal end portion 35 are a series of arms 44 with individual arms 42 being coplanarly aligned with a respective arm 44. Arms 42 and 44 are of identical height. Connecting the ends of each respective coplanarly aligned arms 42 and 44 are ribs 46. The outer surfaces of ribs 46 denne an interrupted cylindrical surface having a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the surface defined by the ends of bristles 15 of inner body 11, so `that the ends of bristles 15 extend beyond ribs 46 in a manner similar to that shown in FIGURE 3. Toroidal portions 33 and 35 each have a radial slit or aperture 39 and 40 respectively therein between adjacent and coplanarly aligned radial arms 42 and 44 respectively. Preferably slits 39 and 40 in their normal position are smaller than the smallest dimension of ends 16 and 17 of central member 13. Ends 33 and 35 are made of a resilient exible material so that by exerting an outward pressure on the pair of arms 42 adjacent slip 39 and the pair of arms 44 adjacent slip 40, slits 39 and 40 are substantially widened, as shown in FIGURE 6 for receiving ends 16 and 17 respectively of central support member 13 in a manner substantially similar to that shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 for placing brush 11 within outer support member 31.

In the use of the present invention, the ends of the strands of hair in the swatch to be curled are spread upon the outer peripheral surface of brush or body member 11, which is the cylindrical surface defined by the ends of extending bristles 15 as seen best in FIGURES 2. and 3. The ends of bristles 15 engage the ends of the individual strands of hair in the swatch of hair to be curled and hold them positively in place on the curler surface without any further act or operation of the user required. The curler is then rotated towards the head of the user. Resilient bristles 15 will ilex as the hair is rolled thereon so that the hair is supported by ribs 28 or 46 of outer support member 18 or 31 respectively. After the desired amount of hair is wound on the curling device, any convenient means may be used to hold the hair in place thereon and to retain the curler from being accidentally displaced from the hair. A bobby pin or other type of hair pin, not shown, may be used preferably with one leg projecting through any convenient aperture 29 in side member 20 of the embodiment shown in FIGURE l and disposed on the inner surface of the curl with the other leg of the hair pin disposed upon the outer surface of the swatch of hair. With the embodiment shown in FIGURE 4 the lower leg of the hair pin may be positioned upon the inner surface of the curl between any two adjacent radial arms 42 or 44, whichever end is most convenient, and the outer leg of the hair pin placed on the outer surface of the swatch of hair on the curling device. The lower leg of the hair pin is easily inserted through resilient bristles 15 of the body member 11 in each embodiment. Other means of holding a swatch of hair in position after the swatch has been wound on the curler body may be used, such as `a resilient stretchable cord or band attached at one end of the curling device with a hook or cap secured to the other end of stretchable cord for attachment to the other end of the curling device after the curl is rolled. Other methods for holding the curl in place may be devised by those skilled in Y the art.

It will be understood that the curler device can be constructed of any suitable material but from the standpoint of economy and weight it is desirable to form the same from a resilient plastic material so that the resulting curler produces a iirm and yet slightly yieldable body. lIt is desirable that ribs 28 and 46 be ilexible so they will yield resiliently upon hair being rolled thereon and thus exert a continuous outward force on the curled hair so as to form a more natural looking curl.

While outer support members 18 and 31 were illustratively shown to have 8 ribs `any `other number of ribs may be used. Also, discs 20 and 22 may be perforated to reduce weight.

Also, while brush or body member 11 was illustratively shown to have a dense amount of bristles radially extending therefrom, lany amount of bristles may be used so long as there is sufficient bristles to provide positive grasping of the strands of hair of the swatch to be curled.

Central support member 13 may be made from plastic, rubber, various metals with bristles 15 fixedly mounted therein. Also, body member 11 and bristles 15 may be of one piece of construction such as moulded plastic or rubber. Bristles 15 may be 'of any suitable material having va high degree of flexibility or springiness.

While brush member 13 has projecting ends 16 and 17, if desired, it may eliminate these projecting ends and rely on the interaction of bristles 15 and the ribs of the outer support members for retaining the brush in position during use.

While a prefer-red embodiment of the invention has been described above, it will be understood that many variations thereof will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit thereof. Therefore it is intended that the foregoing description shall be illustrative only and not construed in a limiting sense, the present invention being defined solely by the appended claims.

What -is claimed is:

1. A hair curling device comprising an elongated bristle support member having a pair of ends, resilient bristles radially projecting from and longitudinally extending along said bristle support member, said bristles having ends dening a cylindrical body surface, and a resilient curl support member having at opposite ends a toroidal shaped central member with a plurality of radially extending arms therefrom, each arm of one central end membeu planarly aligned with a respective arm of the other of said central end member forming a planar pair of arms, a longitudinally extending straight resilient rib interconnecting each arm of said planar pairs of radially extending arms, said Iribs having outer faces defining an interrupted cylindrical surface of a diameter less than the diameter of said cylindrical body surface of said bristles, each of said central end members having a radial slit between adjacent correspondingly planarly aligned radial arms so that said slits are coplanar, said slits being smaller than the smallest width of said ends of said elongated bristle support member, said radial slits in each of said central end members adapted to be enlarged upon urging apart the respective radial -arms adjacent each of said radial slits for receiving a respective end of said elongated bristle support member and adapted to resume their normal position upon removal of said urging apart of adjacent radial arms so that said ribs are in spaced apart relation below the cylindrical body surface of said resilient bristles, said ribs adapted to yield resiliently inwardly as hair is wrapped on said bristle body surface.

2. A hair curling device comprising an elongated brush having a substantially cylindrical outer surface and a pair of transverse end surfaces, and a longitudinal cunl support member disposed concentrically about said brush, said curl support member having a pair of end support members adjacent said transverse en-d surfaces of said brush and a plurality of longitudinally extending straight ribs interconnecting said end members, said ribs being spaced apart land having outer faces defining an interrupted cylindrical surface of a diameter lless than the diameter of said cylindrical outer surface of said brush, each of said end members having a ooplanar radially aligned slit therein between adjacent ribs, each of said radially aligned slits adapted to be enlarged upon urging apart the ribs adjacent each of said radial slits for enlarging the space between said adjacent ribs so` that a portion of said brush can pass through said lradial slit in each of said end members, each of said slits being adapted to resume its normal position upon removal of said urging apart of adjacent ribs whereby said brush is removably disposed within said curl support member.

3. A one-piece curl-support device for lremovably enclosing a cylindrical brush comprising a pair of end members, each member having a central portion with axially aligned centrally disposed apertures therein and a peripheral surface, a plurality of arms radially extending from each of said peripheral surfaces, each arm of one end member planarly aligned with a corresponding arm of the other end member for forming planar pairs of radial arms, longitudinally extending ribs integrally mounted on each arm of each of said planarly aligned pairs of arms, said ribs having outer .faces deiining an interrupted cylindrical surface, each central portion of said members having a radial passageway from said central aperture to its respective peripheral surface, said passageways Ibeing coplanar and disposed between adjacent corresponding planarly aligned radial arms, said radial passageways adapted to be enlarged in response to a separating iorce being exerted on adjacent radial arms of each said end portions, so that a portion of said brush can pass through the separated ribs, said radial passageways returning to a normal position upon removal of said separating force.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,135,612 Bowyer Nov. 8, 1938 2,630,127 Isbell Mar. 3, 1953 2,838,063 Zimmerman June l0', 1958 2,927,589 Lubore Mar. 8, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 337,998 Switzerland lune 15, 1959l 

1. A HAIR CURLING DEVICE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED BRISTLE SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING A PAIR OF ENDS, RESILIENT BRISTLES RADIALLY PROJECTING FROM AND LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING ALONG SAID BRISTLE SUPPORT MEMBER, SAID BRISTLES HAVING ENDS DEFINING A CYLINDRICAL BODY SURFACE, AND A RESILIENT CURL SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING AT OPPOSITE ENDS A TOROIDAL SHAPED CENTRAL MEMBER WITH A PLURALITY OF RADIALLY EXTENDING ARMS THEREFROM, EACH ARM OF ONE CENTRAL END MEMBER PLANARLY ALIGNED WITH A RESPECTIVE ARM OF THE OTHER OF SAID CENTRAL END MEMBER FORMING A PLANAR PAIR OF ARMS, A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING STRAIGHT RESILIENT RIB INTERCONNECTING EACH ARM OF SAID PLANAR PAIRS OF RADIALLY EXTENDING ARMS, SAID RIBS HAVING OUTER FACES DEFINING AN INTERRUPTED CYLINDRICAL SURFACE OF A DIAMETER LESS THAN THE DIAMETER OF SAID CYLINDRICAL BODY SURFACE OF SAID BRISTLES, EACH OF SAID CENTRAL END MEMBERS HAVING A RADIAL SLIT BETWEEN ADJACENT CORRESPONDINGLY PLANARLY ALIGNED RADIAL ARMS SO THAT SAID SLITS ARE COPLANAR, SAID SLITS BEING SMALLER THAN THE SMALLEST WIDTH OF SAID ENDS OF SAID ELONGATED BRISTLE SUPPORT MEMBER, SAID RADIAL SLITS IN EACH OF SAID CENTRAL END MEMBERS ADAPTED TO BE ENLARGED UPON URGING APART THE RESPECTIVE RADIAL ARMS ADJACENT EACH OF SAID RADIAL SLITS FOR RECEIVING A RESPECTIVE END OF SAID ELONGATED BRISTLE SUPPORT MEMBER AND ADAPTED TO RESUME THEIR NORMAL POSITION UPON REMOVAL OF SAID URGING APART OF ADJACENT RADIAL ARMS SO THAT SAID RIBS ARE IN SPACED APART RELATION BELOW THE CYLINDRICAL BODY SURFACE OF SAID RESILIENT BRISTLES, SAID RIBS ADAPTED TO YIELD RESILIENTLY INWARDLY AS HAIR IS WRAPPED ON SAID BRISTLE BODY SURFACE. 